wcpr

[accrag]

theres a song from a portishead poet the late ken rollings, who was the brother of the late George rollings. who is the George in drink up thee cider. the song was called the wcpr song about the weston, clevedon, portishead, railway, i had the great privilege of performing this at George's funeral, i remember a little story of adge cutler wanted to buy this from ken but he would,nt sell it to him. and also remmber playing this at portishead carnival a few yrs ago when pete bud was also on the bill. and was walking around with his wife when i started to perform this song i see him stop and liston. he may well i reconised it.

[Frank Blades (Editor)]

I have never heard of Ken Rollins (neither has Google!). I would be most interested having a look at that one. You say poet - did you put the music to it yourself, or was it also a song?

My mother - who was always proud to tell me that she was on holiday in Severn Beach the day war broke out - also found the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway highly amusing. She thought it was very rude to announce that one was going onto the WC & P!

I suspect that was a lot ruder in 1939 - especially as she was aged 6 or 7!!!!

[accrag]

the late ken rollings was only a local guy and i don,t think published any of his work it lye's in the family.
the words are.

In the parish of north Weston
place were i was born
here that lonesome whistle blow in the early morn
old light railway engine
a moving up cemetery hill
some times at night when the wind was right
i think i hear it still.

CHORUS
from portishead to clevedon and Weston super mare
along the iron roadway
and through the country fair
that local locomotion it was the best by far
it was great to ride to see the tide on the wcpr.

in summer time the children came
aboard that railway train
stopping at the bristol rd
and again at clapton lane
outing on the flyer
was part of there reward
for attending regular Sunday school and singing about the lord

in the early morning when the mist was on the moor
hear that lonesome whistle blow
as she steams for Weston shore
quarry stones and cattle
on yatton's market day
five and twenty passengers a riding all the way.

if you put the tune putting on the agony to it you won't be far wrong